Remote-control system



Jan. 31, 1950 c. R. MINER REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. '7, 1944 Inventor: Carroll R. Miner,

His Attorney.

Jan. 31, 1950 c. R. MINER REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1944 Inventor: Carroll R Mi er, y W X) M Hfs Attorney.

Jan. 31, 1950 c. R. MINER 2,495,917

REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4.

M9 //0 I N 36 9/ I03 I I //l Rt 62 g; m5

Inventor:

canroll R. Miner,

y His Attorney Patented Jan. 31, 1950 REMOTE-CONTROL SYSTEM Carroll R. Miner, Stratford, Conn.,'assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557.707

My invention relates to remote control systems and particularly to such systems adapted for remote control of the tuning of a radio receiver from a remote point.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an automatic tuning system by which a radio receiver may be tuned to any one of a plurality of predetermined frequencies from a remote point and in which one of said predetermined frequencies may readily be varied from said remote point.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a system in which the receiver may be manually tuned from said remotepoint through the mechanism by which said predetermined position is varied.

In a copending application, Serial 1110. 557,670,

of Kirby Austin, filed October '1, 1944, and which is assigned to the assignee of my present application, is disclosed a remote control tuning system in which a mechanical mechanism is shown capable of rotating a tuning condenser, for example. to any one of a plurality of positions dependent upon which of a plurality of electromagnets is energized. Each electromagnet is associated with a gear group through which the condenser may be driven by a motor to a position predetermined in the gear group.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide means whereby one of these positions may be readily adjusted from a remote point.

Another object of my invention is to provide .means whereby the tuning device, or condenser.

may be positively driven from said remote point as by operation of a hand crank at the remote point.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the mechanical apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is adetailof the apparatus shown in Fig. i.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have indicated in the lower portion thereof, at I, a shaft which may be the shaft of the tuning condenser of a radio receiver, for example. It is desired to operate this shaft from one or more remote points 7 Claims. "(CL 74-102) to any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to frequencies to which the receiver is to be tuned. I have indicated two such remote points at 2 and I on the drawing. Suitable control apparatus is located at the stations 2 and 3 which may be selectively connected through a junction box I to control equipment 5 located in the receiver, the tuning of which is to be effected. This remote control apparatus may be of any desired type and'need not be described here. One suitable apparatus for the purpose is shown in the above referred to application.

This control apparatus includes means such as the double acting solenoid 5' for positioning a switch I, having three armatures l, 8 and I, either in its left-hand position when automatic tuning to predetermined stations is tobe had, or in its right-hand position, as shown, when manual tuning of the receiver is to be had. It also includes apparatus to position a selector to in any one of a plurality of positions in accord with the predetermined station to be selected if automatic tuning is desired. This selector comprises a rotatable contact arm ll arranged to be connected through armature ii of the switch 6 to ground and which operates over a bank of contacts. 'These contacts are connected respectively to electromagnets i3, ll, etc. of the mechanical tuning mechanism shown in the lower portion of the drawing. One of these magnets corresponds to each predetermined frequency to which the re.- ceiver is to be tuned from remote points 2, or 3. Only two of these magnets are shown. There may, of course, be as many as desired. The mechanical tuning mechanism also includes a further magnet i5 which is operated when the switch 8 is in its right-hand position to adapt the tuning mechanism for manual tuning from the remote station.

The tuning mechanism comprises a motor it having a shaft ll on which is frictionally mounted a gear II in mesh with a gear I! on shaft 22. This shaft is connected through gears 23 and 24 toa long gear 25, which extends throughout the length of the tuning mechanism, and which is operated whenever the motor I6 is operated. Associated with this shaft 25 are a plurality of gear groups 26 and 21, each corresponding to a particular frequency to be selected and all of which are normally disengaged from the driving gear 25. The magnets l3 and H are each associated with one of these gear groups 26 and 21, each of these electromagnets' being arranged when energized to attract an armature 2! which carries a gear 2! of its asaaoiv meshes with a gear II. These mounted upon a shaft 36, which tunim shaft i through gears 81 gears are provided with means described whereby when gear II is mesh with the gear ii the tuning shaft operated through the respective gear group to positionwherethegearsjaminwhichposi- 4 directioncausingasimilarpile-upofthegroup .of washers .2 having projections 68, 64 and it tionthetuningshaftlstopaleavingthettming' deviceofthereceiver,whichmaybea havingarotatableelement,inapositionsuchthat The manual tuning magnet II has associated which when attractedalsocarriesagearfl'intomeshwiththe Thisgearll'isconnectedtodrivethe t2, 0, l4 and byhandcranksltandllinthedifierentremote stations I and I. g

The mechanism for effecting these desired operations may best be understood by reference to Fig. 2 which shows an exploded view of a portion of mechanical tuning mechanism comprising the gear group 21 and the clutch mechanism II.

Attheleft-handportionofligJareshown thegearsllandllofthegeargrouplteach of which is continuously in mesh with the respectivegearsflandl3,which,inturn,areinmesh with each other to rotate in opposite directions. The gear I! meshes continuously with thegear I! mounted on the armtaure 28, which may be actuated by the magnet to move the gear II into mesh with the long driving gear 25. The latter gear is shown in Fig. 2, broken away in order to show the gears 32 and 33, which lie directly in back' of it. Gears l4 and II are loosely mounted upon the shaft 38 and have between them a disc tlfixed.inamannerlatertobedescribedin connection with Fig. 4, to the shaft 30. Between the gear s4 and the disc OI are a number of washers all loosely mounted upon the shaft and each having a projection It, 51, I. from its periphery. The washer having a projection it is positioned within the gear 34, which has an inward projection It. Upon rotation of gear 34 the projection it engages the projection 86 of the first washer causing that washer to be rotated about the shaft. In its rotation the projection 58 engages the projection 51 of the next washer causing it to be rotated about the shaft and projection ll finally engages the projection ll causing the third washer to rotate about the shaft. The latter projection ll finally engages the projection I on the disc I, which is fixed to the shaft, whereupon the shaft is rotated to drive the tuning condenser. Gear 38, however, simultaneously rotates gear 8! in the opposite which engage each other in succession until the projection 0| engages the opposite side of the projection OI from the disc 00. when this happensthegearsiamandthetuningshaft I store. The motor It shown inl'lg. 1 then stalls. This motor, however. is so mounted that when it stalls its stator rotates carrying a pin it into engagement with a group of three contacts l1. II and 60 causing all of these contacts to engage and to connect a source of potential 12, shown in the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 1 of the drawings, to the magnet of the relay 13 thereby energizing that relay. The relay operates and by its lefthand armature interrupts the energizing circuit of the motor. Thusthe tuning operation is completed, leaving the tuning shaft I which carries the condenser C in a position corresponding to the frequency to be selected.

Whenthemanualtuningmagnet liisenergised, it attracts its armature is carrying gear 20 into engagement with the gear 2'. This latter gear. as previously described, is connected through gears 42, It and 44 with gears I! and 38' within the clutch housing 0, these latter gears corresponding to the gears 82 and 33 of the group 21. The gear I! is continuously in mesh with the gear 34' and the gear 38 is continuously in mesh with the gear 8|. Between these latter two gears is mounted the disc I which is fixed to the shaft and has a projection II from its periphery. Between this disc I and the gear 34' is a group of washers I. each of which has a projection from its periphery overlaying the periphery of the washer at its right and the first of which projections is engaged by the projection II of the gear 34'. Thus in response to rotation of gear 34' the projection engages the projection from the periphery of the first washer of the group II causing that washer to rotate until its projection engages the corresponding projection of the next washer and so on until all of the washers rotate together until the last projection engages the projection ll thereby rotating the shaft 38.

At the same time gear II rotates in the opposite direction causing a similar pile-up of the washers in the group II until the projection II from the periphery ofthe last washer of that group engages the opposlte side of the projection t l of the disc ill whereupon the gears jam leaving the tuning condenser C in a predetermined position. The motor, of course, stalls as previously described and is deenergized by operation of the relay 13.

The position at which the shaft I stops is dependent upon the position in rotation of the gear 40, which is integral with the housing about the gear mechanism 32', w, 34', 35'. This housing comprises the gear It and the end plate 11 which are spaced apart along the shaft 38 and having between them the mechanism including the gears and washers just described enclosed by the cylindrical projection I8 from the gear ll. Gears 3! and 33' are journaled in between the end plate 11 and the gear I. so that they may be rotated bodily about the shaft 36 as the gear It is rotated. During this rotation the gear 44 is carried about the periphery of the gear ll. Of course, the position of the shaft 30 at which the gears jam, as previously described, is dependent upon the position in rotation about the shaft 38 of these gears 32' and 33' and hence is dependent upon the position in rotation of the gigarrlfli which is varied by the worm gear 40 o Gear 48 is arranged to be rigidly connected to 82 is splined to the sleeve 88. which is fixed to the shaft. The plate 82, however, may be moved longitudinally of the sleeve and of shaft 88 by means of a clutch actuating member 88 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is operated through a mechanical linkage 81 by an electromagnet 88. The clutch operating member 88 is bifurcated at, its left-hand end and carries two inwardly projecting pins 82, which ride in a groove 88 about the circumference of a cylindrical portion 84 of the clutch plate 82 so that the clutch plate may be operated to the right to disengage the pins 84 from the holes 88 thereby to permit rotation of the shaft 88, the pins 82 sliding in the groove 88. When clutch operating member 88 is operated to the left the pins 84 engage the holes 88 looking gear 48 to the shaft so that the condenser may then be driven directly by rotation of the gear 48 through the worm gear 48 shown in Fig.

As shown in Fig. 1, the switch 8 is in the position corresponding to manual tuning of the receiver. Relay I8 is energized and by its lefthand armature maintains a holding circuit for itself-through said left-hand armature and the switch I in its right-hand position and source of potential I2. Clutch magnet 88 is deenergized so that clutch. plates 18 and 82 are in engagement and the pins 84, shown in Fig. 2, are within the holes 88 of the plate I8. Thus rotation of the worm gear 48 causes rotation of the gear 48 and shaft 88, which in turn rotates the shaft I of the tuning element. The worm gear 48 may be rotated through the mechanical connections 8| and 82 extending to the two remote stations 8 and 2.

Let us suppose that the operator. now desires to tune the receiver to a predetermined frequency. Through his remote control equipment he oper-' ates the switch 8 to the left and the selector I8 to the position corresponding to the frequency to be selected. Movement of switch I to the left momentarily breaks the holding circuit of relay I8 causing that relay to be deenergized. Relay I8 drops out and completes the circuit for the forward winding F of the motor through the lefthand armature of relay I3 in its left-hand position,

ing the tuning element until the gears in the group 21 jam, as previously described, whereupon the motor stalls. Its stator then rotates in a J operates through linkage-8'! to disengage the two crates and breaks the circuit of the forward winding! of the motor and of electromagnet I4 and again completes a holding circuit for itself through its left-handarmature in right-hand position;

During this operation. switch 8 in its left-hand position energizes the clutch magnet 88 which clutch plates 18 and 82 therebypermitting the shaft 88 to rotate freely.

If the operator at one of the stations 2 or 8 desires nowto tune the receiver to a frequency corresponding to the positionof its respective handcrank 88, or 84, as the case may be. by

switch I in its left-hand position and the source I2. If it be assumed that the selector I8 clockwise direction against spring 88 carrying pin 88 into engagement with the contact 81 completing a circuit from the source I2 through contacts 8! and 88 to relay I8. This relay thus opmeans of his remote control system he operates switch 8 to the right. Armature I of switch 8 interrupts the holding circuit for relay I8 momentarily and this relay drops out and by its left-hand armature closes the circuit for the forward winding of the motor. Armature 8 of the switch 6 completes a circuit for the magnet I8 which extends from ground through armature 9 and its cooperating contact, winding of magnet I8, left-hand armature of relay I8 in its left-hand position, armature 'l in its righthand position and source I2. Magnet I8 is thus energized during operation of the motor and the motor operates to drive the chain of gears 28, 29', 42, 43, 44, as shown in Fig. 1, and the gear group 82, 83', 84' and 88' of the clutch mechanism 48 to a position where these gears jam, as previously described, this position being dependent upon the position of the gear 48. The position of this gear of course corresponds to the position of the handcranks. When this occurs the motor stalls, the stator rotates clockwise and by means of pin 88 causes contacts 81 and 88 to engage thereby again energizing relay 13, which operates to break the circuit of the motor. It will be apparent that the gear 48 is normally stationary,- although the rotative position thereof is adjustable by the handcranks. In manual tuning, the gear may be mechanically driven by either handcrank, or, if it is desired to adjust the frequency to which the receiver will be tuned by operating magnet I8, gear 48 is adjusted by the handcranks to the desired position.

Relay I3 also by its right-hand armature interrupts the circuit of the clutch magnet 88 whereupon spring operates the clutch operat-' ing member 88 to the left causing the clutch 48 causing rotation'of the clutch plate 82, whichis splined to the shaft 88 whichis geared to the shaft I. Thus the clutch mechanism 48 operates both to provide an additional preset position which is readily variable from the remote stations and also it'provides a direct drive for the condenser shaft whereby it may be operated by the handcranks 83 and 84 in the stations 2 and 3.

If desired, the handcranks 83 and 84 may be provided with a scale calibrated in terms of frequency to which the receiver is tuned. The shaft 88 is also provided with a gear 8| by which any suitable frequency indicating mechanism in the receiver itself maybe driven thereby continuously to indicate the frequency to which the receiver istuned.

Sometimes in the operation of the system through the remote control mechanism described in the above referred to patent application one ofthemagnets ilor l4 becomesenergisedbefore the gear of a different magnet is disengaged from gear 26. These gears It may not drop out from enga ment with gear II immediately upon deenergization of the respective magnet since the direction of rotation of the gear Il may be such as to maintain the gear 2. in engagement with the gear 28. Then if the second magnet becomes energised, two gears a may simultaneously be in engagement with the gear it with the result that Jamming of the gears may occur while the shaft I is at an undesired position, that is, a position not corresponding to any predetermined frequency. some backward rotation of the gear II is necessary to the reliable disengagement of the gears It. To provide this backward rotation in a positive and effective manner the reverse winding R. is provided on the motor connected in circuit between ground and the contact 6! to which positive voltage from the battery 12 is supplied whenever motor lt stalls and the pin 66 operates the contacts 61, 68 and 69 into engagement. This reverse winding causes a positive momentary backward rotation of the gear 28 thereby positively throwing the gears 29 out of engagement therewith. Of course the circuit of winding R is broken when pin 85 releases the contacts 61, 88 and 89.

Fig. 3 shows an elevation view of the mechanical mechanism of Fig. 1. The same reference numerals which appear on Fig. 1 are applied to corresponding elements of Fig. 3 and it is believed that no further description thereof is required.

Fig. 4 shows the means by which the discs 80 may be clamped to the shaft 38 in adjustable predetermined positions to determine the frequency to be selected by the respective gear group. These discs .0 are each positioned between two sleeves IOI and I '2 upon which the different washers are mounted between these discs to and the respective gears 34 and II. The shaft 36 is screwthreaded at its left end and provided with nuts I03 and two clamping members llll, I05. These clamping members have oblique cooperating surfaces as indicated at I", the member I being provided with a bore larger than the diameter of the shaft and with a set screw III! which engages the shaft. When this set screw is rotated to bear against the shaft, the clamping member IN is pushed upward, causing the oblique surface I" of members I" and I" to engage and slide upon each other thereby pressing bearing member III and spring washer llll against the disc III which abuts against the end of the left-hand sleeve III. The right end of the shaft is anchored in the bearing I08. In this way endwise pressure is brought onto all of the sleeves thereby clamping the washers 82 between adjacent sleeves and against rotation.

To change the frequency to which the receiver is to be tuned by any gear group It and 21, it is necessary only to release the set screw I01, rotate the respective washer It to the desired position and reset the set screw I".

while I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since different modifications both in the circuit arrangement and in the structure employed may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I contemplate by the appended claims, therefore, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination. in an automatic tuning system, of a motor, a rotatable tuning element, a plurality of electromagnets, a mechanical interconnection between said motor and tuning element to operate said element to any one of a plurality of preset positions selectively in accord with the electromagnet operated, said electromagnets being operatively associated with said interconnection, means to operate said electromagnets from a remote point, and means to vary from said remote point the position to which said element is operated when a predetermined one of said electromagnets is operated.

2. The combination, in an-automatic tuning system, of a motor, a rotatable tuning element, a plurality of electromagnets, and a mechanical interconnection mechanically associated with the armatures of said electromagnets between said motor and tuning element to operate said element to any one of a plurality of preset positions selectively in accord with the electromasnet operated, means to operate said electromagnets from a, remote point and to energize said motor to drive said tuning element through said mechanical interconnection to a position corresponding to the electromagnet operated, and means adjustable at said remote point to vary the position to which said element is operated by said motor when a predetermined one of said electromagnets is operated.

3. The ccmbination, in an automatic tuning system, of a motor, a tuning element and a plurality of driving connections between said motor and said tuning element, each of said driving connections having associated therewith an electromagnet, each of said driving connections including a gear group normally disengaged from said motor, means controlled by each electromagnet to engage the respective gear group with said motor, each gear group including means to drive the respective tuning element to a cor-' responding preset position, and one of said gear groups having an element manually rotatable to vary the position to which said tuning element is driven, and a clutch connection between said manually rotatable element and said tuning element through which said tuning element is driven for manual tuning when the respective gear group is disengaged from said motor.

4. In combination, a shaft to be positioned in any one of a plurality of positions, a motor, a plurality of mechanical drive connections between said motor and shaft, each of said connections being normally interrupted and adapted when completed to drive said shaft to a corresponding position and then Jam leaving said shaft in said corresponding position, a normally stationary gearsupporting a portion of one of said connections in adjustable position, means to jam said connection when said shaft is in a position corresponding to the position of the respective adjustable gear, means controlled from a remote point to complete any desired one of said connections thereby to operate said shaft to corresponding positions, and means ad- ,iustable at said remote point to rotate said gear, whereby said shaft may be operated through said one connection to any desired position.

5. In combination, a shaft to be positioned in any one of a plurality of positions, a motor, a plurality of mechanical drive connections be- 76 tween said motor and shaft. each of said connections being normally interrupted and adapted when completed to drive said shaft to a corresponding position and then jam leaving said shaft in said corresponding position, one of said connections being adjustable by a normally stationary member adjustable to different positions in rotation about said shaft, means to jam said connection when said shaft is in a position corresponding to the position of the adjustable member, means controlled from a remote point to complete any desired one of said connections, thereby to operate said shaft to corresponding positions, means at said remote point to rotate said member, whereby said shaft may be operated through said one connection to any desired position, a clutch connection between said member and said shaft, and means to break said clutch connection when said one mechanical connection is completed and to make said clutch connection when said one mechanical connection is interrupted.

6. In combination, a shaft to be positioned in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions, a motor, a plurality of drive connections between said motor and shaft. each of said connections being normally interrupted and adapted when completed to drive said shaft to a corresponding position, means selectively to complete any of said drive connections, one of said connections being adjustable by remotely controlled positioning means, a clutch connecting said means and said shaft, whereby said shaft is directly coupled for driving by said means when said clutch is engaged, and means for disengaging said clutch, whereby said shaft is driven to a position corresponding to the adjusted position of said one connection upon completion of said one connection.

7. The combination in an automatic control system of a rotatable element to be controlled, a source of rotational energy, rotational energy transfer means for connecting said source to said element comprising a plurality of channels, means for presetting each of said channels, an additional channel, manual means for selecting from a remote control station one of said channels for energy transfer, means for varying from said remote control station the setting of said additional channel, separate means responsive to the rotational position of said element and respectively associated with each of said channels adapted to jam the selected channel against further energy transfer when said element reaches a position related to the setting of the selected channel.

CARROLL R. MINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date 

